What We Do

Pathways to a Brighter Future

The unwavering mission of Queen Lili‘uokalani — to ensure the wellbeing of Hawaiian children and ‘ohana — is the guiding light for our work at Lili‘uokalani Trust. For the most disadvantaged of these children, however, persistent poverty blocks access to the kind of existence they, and future generations of kamali‘i (beneficiaries), deserve.

Our commitment is to change that — to carry out the Queen’s intention on a scale that will permanently improve the lives of all Hawaiian children and build pathways to their self-empowerment. As a self-funded independent trust, we have the opportunity — and, more than that, the responsibility — to take on one of the most fundamental challenges our community faces: ending the cycle of poverty for Hawaiian children and families.

We believe that lasting solutions will come from addressing the root causes of poverty and stimulating change across the entire system. After all, it’s not the children we’re trying to fix; it’s the system that hinders their progress. That kind of transformation calls on us as an organization and as individuals to take risks, innovate, and commit fully. We are tapping into our collective wisdom and investing in high-impact programs, research, and advocacy to realize our vision of thriving Hawaiian children.

Our Challenges

Native Hawaiian children and their ‘ohana are overrepresented in the justice, child welfare, special education, and healthcare systems. Their needs are simply not being served. We believe that by directing our resources to individuals who are the most vulnerable — those who are chronically placed at-risk by their bleak circumstances — we’re enabling them to create better lives and consider bigger dreams. By uplifting the most disadvantaged among us, the welfare of our whole community will improve.

Teen Pregnancy:

The proportion of live births to teen mothers was about twice as high among Native Hawaiians (16.1%) as in the statewide population (8.4%) in 2000, 2004, and 2008. (Ka Huakaʻi 2014)

Youth Incarceration:

Native Hawaiians are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. Over two thirds (69.1%) of girls and about half of boys (53.1%) imprisioned at Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in 2007 were Native Hawaiian. (HŪLILI Vol. 7 2011)